Ignorant Arse WIC Comment (and my reply that got me in trouble)

sunflower8710 · July 2011

Today at work a woman was having some issues with WIC. It was her first WIC trip and she didn't quite understand just how specific the items had to be AND she forgot her pamphlet that had it broken down (on top of not speaking very good English). For the canned beans she tried to get canned green beans. I pulled out our store copy of the pamphlet and showed her the actual options while my CSM (customer service manager) went and retrieved her canned kidney beans. While my CSM is away I notice she got the wrong peanut butter as well. I had no way to contact my CSM while she was on the bean hunt, so when she came back she had to make a second trip. Meanwhile the woman behind her is getting extremely irritated (somewhat understandable, but she took it to new levels). Huffing and puffing, clearing her throat, shooting dirty looks at me and the other customer, drumming her fingers on the belt, and then asks me, "How much longer am I going to be waiting?" to which I told her it will only be until my CSM gets back with the PB and I'll run the check and we'll be ready. So after that the WIC lady thanked me for helping and she went on her merry way. The woman who was huffy and puffy waits till she's out of ear shot and says, "Man! The people who get government assistance! Is it just me or do stupid and poor go hand in hand?" *Please note that I am always super polite to customers (I got ranked as "role model" in my review") and the snark you are about to read is way out of character* I stood up (I was on a bar stool for my shift) patted my big pregnant belly and said, "Well I am a Biology major at Purdue with a 3.8 GPA and I'm on WIC, so- no, I don't really know what you're talking about."

Needless to say CSM had to come back to my register for the 3rd time in about 5 minutes and handle the situation. After the lady left (who insisted it be reported to a "real" manager) my CSM told me she didn't know if she'd bother reporting it, but she may have to.

Siiiigh. I should have bit my tongue. But what a bee-ya. I mean helllllloooo. I cashier at Walmart- of course I'm "poor," why would you say that to a "poor person"?!

jupiterthecat · July 2011

I can't believe the lady had the gall to report you to the manager after she made a completely insensitive comment like that. You'd think she'd be embarrassed!

JaninneAlvarado · July 2011

There are a lot of rude people out there for reals. I must be dumb too because I've had WIC in the past and since being out of work, I will more then likely reapply for WIC. I could easily be getting a TON of assistance from that program as I have 2 boys under 5 my pregnant self who will be breastfeeding and the LO on the way. That would make 4 of us. I too worked with a guy at the hospital who's wife was a manager at WIC and they were going to cut back on the program due to lack of use. Like people would go get their checks and never use them.

bethyboo80 · July 2011

What is wrong with people? I'll be applying for WIC soon, with 2 kids under 5 and one on the way, and I have a BS from Oregon State. I must be an idiot too...

KellieD6708 · July 2011

That would have made me so mad. I'm on WIC and I don't see anything wrong with it. I say she is the idiot if she actually thought that was an okay thing to say. Good for you for saying something back to her!!!

buddy83 · July 2011

Since I lost my job and SD hasn't helped me financially, I had to go on WIC. And I have a college degree and graduated with a 3.7 GPA. Just because you get help from the program, doesn't mean you're stupid or less than anyone else. I guess that woman hasn't heard about the financial crisis this country is in. She's the stupid one.

backinpgh · July 2011

lol Yeah does she not realize that practically everyone who works for Mr. Walton HAS to be on some kind of government assistance? Sheesh.

Luckily when I was at my WIC appointment the other day they said they are soon transitioning to cards instead of checks...I'm hoping this means the system will work more smoothly.

Miss Shasta · July 2011

I am sorry you had to deal with that. I can't stand people that think they are better than everyone else. One day that lady might find herself in a tough position and have to apply for WIC or some other type of government assistance.

CariBriel · July 2011

Yeah, I received WIC when DD was born and I am currently in my senior year of college with a 3.9 GPA. There is definitely a difference between people who really need help from the system and use it responsibly and the people who take advantage of it. I used to work at a convenience store in high school and people would come in and use their food stamps to buy ice cream and other crap and then whip out a $50 bill to buy their carton of Newports. Now that really irritates me.

marie_0907 · July 2011

Wow, I can't even believe she could complain on what you said. You did absolutely nothing wrong. Hopefully your manager doesn't report that any further.

AND, good for you for standing up for yourself and others.

mommyjahr · July 2011

If it makes you any better, if I was the customer behind the huffy, I would have totally high fived you!

Tessababy4 · July 2011

Wow! Good for you for standing up for yourself!

Azrayla · July 2011

I always try to be nice to the WIC folks I know its such aa PITA trying to find specifically what they allow you to get.. I was a cashier at a Publix and only had one issue when a woman was trying to get more than her check allowed.. just because it "rings up" doesnt mean you can have it.. WIC honestly is the easiest program to get into (unlike EBT/food stamps or other govt help programs) so I wouldnt judge...And really what you said didnt seem all that bad to me..she was aa punk and deserved to be put in her place..customers are crazy..

macdidlyicious · July 2011

What a biitch. As someone who used to work at WIC, it pisses me off that people are so ignorant. Its comments like that that make people who could really use the assistance embarassed to participate in the program. WIC is quite awesome and certainly helps families in need. There has been an increase in the number of people needing assistance and its a lot more people who would never even need govt assistance in the past.

I hope that woman lands herself in line at the food pantry.

JeepersWife · July 2011

I wouldn't have been able to bite my tonge either, especially with these pregnancy hormones. Her actions and comment were completely out of line given the situation. If she was in such a hurry, she should have gone to another check out! Good for you for giving her your peice of mind. At least you said it in a "nice" way!!

cheezemonger · July 2011

Love you! that's all!

beazbadazme2 · July 2011

Looks like poor people aren't the only "ignorant".

For her information some women are on WIC because of health issues not because of income.

I was on WIC with my oldest because I was too pregnancy sick to work (literally). My friend is on WIC because she can't get a job in this economy in 2 yrs and not many people will hire a pregnant women. Another friend is on WIC because she's a single mom because the father won't acknowledge the kid and she works fulltime.

Treasa · July 2011

Well said, Sunflower! She sounds like a piece of work!

heatherebee · July 2011

I am glad you spoke up

go you!

womancake · July 2011

I don't see anything wrong at all with what you said to her, and I'm proud of you for standing up for yourself. If your manager wants to report it I suppose that's their prerogative, but just because you're a cashier at Wal-Mart doesn't mean you have to take whatever some customer hurls your way.

supernat3 · July 2011

WOOHOO!!! YOU TOTALLY BIATCH *S*L*A*P*P*E*D THAT LADY AND SHE TOTALLY DESERVED IT! hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!! That was honestly such a classy response, literally, it really was. You didn't put the lady down or call her an ignoramous idiot (which she is), you just stated a fact. If I was that smart, I would have said the same thing too. OMG - seriously awesome! AND WHAT is your CSM going to say/do? That customer is just pissed b/c she got embarassed b/c you called her out on her stupidity. Don't worry about it - great job! Yes

LaComtesse · July 2011

Oh heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeell no.

Yeah, you did the right thing, Wal*Mart customer service policy be damned. That the customer didn't immediately realize what a complete jack@ss she was and apologize immediately for her ridiculous comment only goes to show that she is at a level of stupidity and bitterness that cannot ever be helped. You should pity her... and then maybe we can all get together and slash her tires or something, because even pitiable people sometimes need their tires slashed.

unm00red · July 2011

Congrats for your brilliant response.

Laceface7 · July 2011

Wow. Thats disgustingly rude. I can't believe she had the guts to be offended by what you said. She is an out right B!tch!!! First to offend someone that is not even there to defend themselves, and then to have the nerve to want to report you because you did stand up to yourself. I would say she is the ignorant one.....smh.....sorry Jessie

armybride86 · July 2011

I am proud that you stood up for yourself, and I don't think you even really did it in a rude way, so kudos.

I just signed up for WIC (a few days ago), and I have to admit that I was a bit embarrassed at first. So it's nice to see how many people on here are also on WIC. H and I have always prided ourselves on never needing any help (like from family or friends), so this was a big step I had to take in swallowing my pride. Money has just been SUPER tight around here with me not working, and just H's income. We had to buy a lot of baby stuff ourselves (especially the big items), so our savings has dwindled down quit a bit. It was such a relief when we checked out, to know that our grocery bill isn't going to be as high as it was before (and I like to consider myself a thrifty shopper by buying the store brand as opposed to name brand). It relieves some money stress that I have with LO coming. I still haven't really told anyone though about us being on the program due to me knowing that some people are like that rude ass lady, and I don't want to be judge. Embarrassed

sunflower8710 · July 2011

Ignorant lady said that my comment and body language (aka: standing up) was meant to provoke her further and that Sam Walton would not be happy that one of his cashiers couldn't just shut her mouth when offended by a customer.

My CSM doesn't think I did anything wrong (I just stated a fact), but she worries if she doesn't report the incident to a higher up that *if* Ignorant Lady decides to follow through with the situation that she could get into trouble... And who knows with this insaaaane woman!

Thanks everyone! I was quite proud of myself until she insisted I call the CSM back over...

kodonnell_mcc · July 2011

Good for you! What a horrible woman!

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